'Carol', otherwise known as 'The Price of Salt' was overall very disappointing as a book. Having watched the beautifully made film not too long ago, I found myself putting the book down in boredom more than once. I have come to believe that I am not much of a fan of Highsmith's writing style, which is rare for me considering books are usually highly superior to their films.
Therese, a young impressionable girl and aspiring set designer is working the Christmas shift at a large department store to help her save money. It is in this store that she meets Carol, a beautiful, elegant and entirely independent mother of one. Therese sees something inside Carol that she relates to, and immediately becomes besotted by her. They start to regularly meet, much to the annoyance of Therese's boyfriend and Carol's estranged husband and even take a trip around America. The story follows their volatile relationship, Therese's doubts, Carol's selfishness and how their feelings affect those closest to them ending in a climactic decision that changes their lives for ever. I think it was a brave novel to write in 1952, and I understand the need to show that a lesbian relationship over 50 years ago was just as acceptable as it is now, but I just found myself despising both main characters and wishing they would stop being so utterly wrapped up in themselves. I feel that the film did a better job at showing Carol and Therese's reasoning and emotional states than the novel and delved more into why they both made the decisions they ultimately do.
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